Equalizer seat cushion



Jan. 2, 1934. w. H. MUSSEY 1,941,996

EQUALIZER SEAT CUSHION Filed Oct. 19, 1951 i Z I I 6 I I.

m5 HTTJF/VEK ability of the element as Patented Jan. 2, 1934 EQUALIZEB. SEAT CUSHION William H. Mussey, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments,

to Pullman Car & Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application October 19, 1931.- Serial No. 569,745

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to car trucks employing equalizer bars, and more particularly to cushioning elements for use on the tops of the journal boxes thereof, to provide cushioned seats for the ends of the equalizers for the purpose of improving the riding qualities of the truck and the extension of the useful life of said journal boxes and equalizers.

An object of the invention is the elimination of rail shock, resulting from the rapid traversing of rail joints, crossings and the like, and the objectionable noises arising therefrom. In the conventional truck this constant hammering action, together with the lateral rocking of the equalizers and the tendency of the journal box during car starting and stopping operation, to rotate about the axle, causes undue wear on the journal box roof and equalizer foot and gives rise to distu'rbances very annoying to passengers. In efforts heretofore made to remedy the condition first above mentioned, these parts were made of a greater section than stresses otherwise required and resulted in further aggravation of the latter condition.

By the insertion of a rubber cushion between the journal box and truck equalizer, the transmission of sound and vibration to the car body is reduced to a while at the same time the comparatively rapid wear occurring at this point is prevented, thereby enabling the use of equalizers having bearing portions of lighter section and allowing a proportionate reduction in the weight of the upper portion of the journal box.

By the use of the present invention, the lateral rocking action of the equalizers and the rotative tendencies of the journal box, referred to, are compensated for by the rubber cushion, resulting in a very desirable fiem'bility and smoothness heretofore unattainable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cushioning element having a metal plate embedded therein, which, while it provides the necessary strength, also increases the cushioning a whole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rubber cushion capable of being used with the standard type of equalizer being provided on its top with a transversely extending raised ridge corresponding to the centering ridge on the customary journal box and having the internal metallic plate conforming to said raised portion, and lugs protruding laterally of such cushion for preventing the longitudinal slippage thereof.

A further object is to provide a journal box having a recess in the top thereof for receiving a cushioning element, said recess being open at the ends to allow for the expansion of the rubber cushioning element and with grooves in the sides of such recess for anchoring the cushioning element.

A still further object of the invention is to so proportion the journal box and pedestals and associated parts that the cushioning element will be confined laterally, and space provided fore and aft thereof, to allow for the free expansion longitudinally, of said cushioning element, under pressure.

One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a car truck, being'partly shown in section to fully illustrate the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-4, of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the truck shown in Figures 1 and 2, portions of the frame and equalizer being broken away to show the recess in the journal box withthe rubber cushion in place; and

Figures 4, 5, and 6 show respectivelya top plan view, a side elevational view and an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of thetype of cushion contemplated, portions being broken away to expose the internal metallic plate.

In the drawing, 10 represents a portion of a car truck in which the truck frame 11 is resil= iently supported upon equalizers 12 by springs 13 suitably interposed between said frame and equalizers, the equalizers resting upon journal boxes ii which in turn are supported upon journals 15, all as in the customary manner. The usual pedestals 16 depend from truck frame 11 upon opposite sides of the journal box 14 for the purpose oi restraining any tendency of the wheel and axle assemblies 17 to approach or move apart and to act as guides for the frame 11.

In the upper portion of journahbox 14, there is formed a recess 18, having open ends, for the reception of a cushioning element 20. Said cushioning element may be provided intermediate its ends with laterally extending lug portions 21 adapted to coincide with vertical grooves 22 its journal box 14 for the purpose of overcoming any tendency of the element 20 to slip longitudinally of the recess l8. 7

A raised portion 23, corresponding to the usual centering ridge found on the roof of standard journal boxes, is formed on the top of cushioning element 20 and conforms to the general configuration of groove 24 in equalizer i2.

A metal plate 25, embedded within the cushioning element, serves as a stabilizing unit for preventing the distortion and unequal stressing of the cushion in service. As indicated at 26, this plate is formed with a raised portion beneath the correspondingly raised cushion ridge 23 to reinforce and relieve said ridge of any undue stressing, and is preferably projected laterally and flanged downwardly as shown at 28, to provide at once a reinforcement for the lugs 21 and to preserve the contour of said raised portion.

The longitudinal forces imposed upon cushion 20 are distributed throughout its body by means of the internal metal plate 25 having a raised portion 26. The metal plate 25 has the further quality of acting as a dividing medium for the upper and lower halves of cushioning element 20, creating virtually two spring units for the absorption of vertically, and other, applied loads. By reason of this division, the cushioning ability of this element as a whole is substantially increased and its period of usefulness prolonged.

As the cushion 20 is confined laterally, it becomes necessary that some means be provided to permitexpansion lengthwise of the cushion. For this purpose the ends of recess 18, in journal box 14, are left open and recesses 27 formed in said journal box, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to receive the overflow of rubber from cushion 20, whereby the resiliency of the rubber is maintained until its elastic limit has been reached.

During car starting movements, when the journals are frozen, there is an initial tendency for the journal box to rotate with the axle, which is resisted upon the box coming in contact with the pedestals, thereby setting up a. longitudinal stressing of the journal box roof by the truck equalizers, and when a brake application is made, a reversal of stresses takes place, both of which, w th the lateral rocking of the equalizers, resulting from the weaving of the cars in a train and the constant vertical displacement of wheel and axle assemblies in the usual type of truck, causes a rapid breaking down of these parts and their premature replacement. By the use of the rubber cushion of thisinvention, the noises of car movement are substantially muted and initial rotation of the journal box is minimized and undue stressing of the box avoided.

What I claim is:

1. In a railway car truck the combination comprising journal boxes, a truck frame supported thereon, and cushioning elements inserted between said journal boxes and truck frame, said cushioning elements each comprising a flat rubber pad having a transversely extending raised ridge intermediate the length of its upper side, and a metal plate embedded in the pad conforming to said ridge, said plate having cushion stabilizing and stress distributing extensions upon opposite sides of said ridge conforming portions.

2. In a railway car truck the combination comprising journal boxeshaving recesses in their upper sides, open at their respective ends, and provided with vertical grooves in their opposite side walls, cushioning elements seated in said recesses having protruding lugs adapted to enter said grooves, equalizer bars supported upon the cushioning elements, and a truck frame supported upon said equalizers.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cushioning element for use in railway car truck, comprising a rubber pad having a transversely extending raised ridge upon its upper side, laterally protruding lug portions on its opposite sides, and a metal plate embedded in said element having a raised portion extending into said ridge.

4. As an article of manufacture, a cushioning element for use in a railway car truck, comprising a rubber pad having a transversely extending raised ridge upon its upper side, laterally protruding lug portions on its opposite sides, and a metal plate embedded in said pad having a raised portion conforming to the raised ridge thereof. extended laterally into said lug portions and terminating in depending flanges therein.

- WILLIAM H. MUSSEY. 

